Longstanding Ramsey County Commissioners Toni Carter, Jim McDonough, Rafael Ortega and Janice Rettman handily won re-election a couple months ago. The four members of the county board were sworn in at St. Paul City Hall / the Ramsey County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, and the ceremony took an emotional turn.
The full video is online.
After being sworn in, Ortega remembered his sister, who passed away the day before after a long struggle with lupus, an autoimmune disease. He called her his role model.
Said Ortega:
“My sister suffered from Lupus for over 30 years. She graduated from Hamline University, and a year later was really ravagedly attacked with Lupus. … She had a kidney transplant that failed. For the last 20 years, she really struggled. … She was in and out of the hospital. She’ll be fine for two or three weeks, and then end up in the hospital for two or three or four days. But she was always there for me, even through her illnesses. But she didn’t give up. She kept fighting, for herself and others. She helped raise money for the Lupus Foundation. She just did a lot of things when a lot of other people might have given up. … She will be my role model. I do have those very few dark days. Here was somebody who was really afflicted by something that handicapped her for most of her life, and just never gave up, and was a fighter. I hope I continue to fight for the people in this county, and to do good things.”
Rettman was sworn in with Ruby Hunt holding the Bible. Hunt, like Rettman, is a former St. Paul City Council member and county commissioner.
Rettman said she “doesn’t try to make headlines” but she’s not afraid of speaking out. Without mentioning the team by name, she made what could be interpreted to be a sideways reference to the Minnesota Vikings ownership, who had once pondered partnering with Ramsey County and moving the team to Arden Hills.
Said Rettman:
“The fundamental underpinnings of participatory democracy is knowledge and open debate. You want me to lead with you … standing tall against giving millions to millionaires. … You want me to be your boots on the ground, and I do that with all my heart. … People come first.”
Hunt had a few things to say herself:
“I’ve enjoyed following the county board ever since I left. I’m really impressed with everything you’ve done for economic development, and the programs that you have ahead of you. But I’m particularly impressed with the financial management that you have brought to bear in the county.”
The commissioners conducted their meeting using iPads for the first time and then went on to appoint committee chairs. More on that soon...
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